Guy Leech brings back Surf Iron Man
Surf Ironman partnership gives sport massive boost
Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), Sports Entertainment Limited (SEL) and former champion Guy Leech have joined forces to significantly boost the future of Ironman and Ironwoman racing, announcing today that they will conduct a five event series this summer at some of the most iconic beaches in the country.
The partnership will see long time sponsor Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain again back the series that will be supported by more than 40 hours of television, including live Sunday afternoon broadcasts on Network Ten, from Currumbin (November 21), Bondi (Dec 3), Coolum (Dec 19), Portsea (Jan 2) and Noosa (Jan 9).
The series will feature the best 20 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMen and 20 IronWomen in the nation including superstars Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes, Ky Hurst and Alicia Marriott racing for more than $300,000 in prize money over traditionally popular formats that will test endurance, power, skill and speed, giving the truest indication of just who is the best overall surf athlete on the planet.
Adding to the action will be a Legends series that will rewind the clock to the halcyon days of the sport and bring former heroes like Leech, Trevor Hendy, Grant Kenny, Darren Mercer, Guy Andrews and Clint Robinson back to competition in a relay format.
The partnership between SLSA, SEL, Leech, Kellogg’s and Network Ten is one that SLSA President Ron Rankin believes will bring sustained growth for the sport.
“This partnership just made tremendous sense to SLSA and we are proud with the support of Queensland Events to be able to work with Kellogg’s and Network Ten to ensure that between SLSA, SEL and Guy we are able to put on the best series available and grow the sport,” Mr Rankin said.
“The passion of everybody involved is hard not to be impressed by and we as an organisation are delighted with the direction the sport is headed and thrilled for the athletes.”
Holmes, one of the most prolific IronMen in history with victories in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan series and Coolangatta Gold, as well as Australian and World Championships, was overjoyed with the announcement and excited to take on the challenge that includes two hour races, the Triple Sprint format and the cut throat Eliminator race.
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“From an athlete’s perspective this Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan series, with the longer races and awesome venues that will no doubt produce challenging conditions, is very exciting,” Holmes, who will have to trial or pick up a series wildcard after missing last summer with a back injury, said.
“The formats will ensure that the best all round IronMan and IronWoman wins the series because it will take endurance, skill and sprint speed. I can’t wait.”
Queensland Premier Ms Anna Bligh said she was delighted Queensland would be the lead host state for the series.
“This series is right in the middle Queensland Events ‘Summer Season’ which also includes the National Surf Life Saving Championships and the Coolangatta Gold, along with the PGA Championships, Magic Millions and the Brisbane International,” Ms Bligh said.
“My government through Queensland Events supports these events in line with the Towards Q2 objective of ‘Healthy’ – providing strong messages of healthy living, outdoors activity and community spirit.”
Ms Bligh said three of South East Queensland’s most beautiful beaches – Currumbin, Coolum and Noosa Heads would be showcased to an estimated 10,000 spectators at each event, and nationally via Network Ten coverage.
“I know Queensland will get behind our local IronMen and IronWomen at these great events, and I look forward to seeing all the action on our beaches later this year,” she said.
Network Ten General Manager of Sport, David White, said he hoped the sport could regain its rightful place as one of Australia’s premier summer sports, particularly given that four of the races will air nationally in Sunday afternoon timeslots that have been so successful in the past.
“The whole concept for this series is one that we are buoyant about and with the afternoon timeslots leading into the news nationally and the iconic venues I am certain the series will make great television,” Mr White said.
Kellogg’s Marketing Manager, Media and Operations, Ian Blackhall, was equally upbeat about the season ahead.
“Kellogg’s and the Nutri-Grain brand have been long term supporters of Surf Life Saving and IronMan racing and we continue to be committed to the sport,” Mr Blackhall said.
“We believe the partnership with SLSA, Ten, SEL and Guy Leech will take the sport to new heights this season and beyond.”
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SEL, the masterminds behind the success and continued growth of the V8 Supercars and ANZ Netball Championships with decades of experience in event management and implementation jumped at the chance to get involved with the series.
“IronMan Racing is as much a part of the Australian summer as a Sunday BBQ and with the calibre of athletes, the backing of all the stakeholders and Guy’s passion and knowledge we saw this as a fantastic opportunity and something we simply couldn’t pass up being involved with,” SEL Director Basil Scaffidi said.
Leech, a triple winner of the Coolangatta Gold and former world champion who is a powerful advocate for reducing obesity rates around Australia through exercise and healthy living, said he was honoured to be involved.
“I wanted to help drive IronMan and IronWoman racing back to its rightful place near the top of the summer sporting landscape because the sport was so good to me and many of my closest friends,” Leech, who will take on the Event Director’s role for the series, said.
“I am also firmly committed to reducing obesity and improving health and fitness around the country and what better way to do it than to promote healthy outdoor activities like IronMan and getting out and enjoying our beaches.”
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Already six men and five women have been confirmed as starters in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan series after qualifying through the 2009/10 season of the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain series with a further eight men and nine women to win automatic entry from the series trial at Tugun on the Gold Coast on September 18/19. The final six spots in both fields will be awarded to wildcards.
The series is also being supported by TYR, Tourism Noosa and the Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort and Spa.
More exciting sponsor partnerships will announced in the coming months.